‘It’s about caring’: Man talked down from jumping off I-435 bridge
LEAWOOD, Kan. (KCTV) - Things could have taken a dark turn on the I-435 bridge if not for the swift action of the Leawood Police Department. They said quick thinking helped get a man off the ledge and save his life.
On Monday afternoon, officers from the Leawood Police Department responded to a man experiencing a mental health crisis. When they arrived at the eastbound I-435 bridge, they said they saw a man with his feet hanging over the ledge.
“The officers worked quickly but were patient enough to establish a verbal communication and be patient with the gentlemen,” said Leawood Police Department Capt. Jason Ahring.
When officers got there and saw a man sitting on the ledge, Ahring said they sprung into action.
“In this situation, officers did exactly the way they’re trained in how they handled the situation to limit anyone getting hurt and it became a safe outcome,” said Ahring.
Captain Ahring said officers followed crisis intervention protocol by talking with the man and asking what his name was. KD was also on-scene to help divert traffic.
“The goal is safety for everybody involved and agencies are realizing, police departments are realizing de-escalation is a priority to resolve a lot of situations,” he said.
In this case, de-escalation worked. The department said it didn’t take long for the man to raise his hands and quickly comply with the officers’ efforts to get him off the ledge to safety. The Leawood Police Department works in partnership with other agencies and co-responders to help people in these kinds of situations receive mental health resources. The man in this situation is now in professional care.
“It’s not always about law enforcement, it’s the care side of things that we can do to help the community and help those that are in need.”
The man is now receiving help from Johnson County Mental Health Services.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
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